ATHLETIC PLACEMENT PROCESS FOR INTERSCHOOL …

1 ATHLETIC PLACEMENT PROCESS FOR INTERSCHOOL ATHLETIC PROGRAMS The University of the State of New York The New York State Education Department Office of Curriculum and Instruction Albany, New York 12234 February 2015 i THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK Regents of The University MERRYL H. TISCH, Chancellor, , , .. New York ANTHONY S. BOTTAR, Vice Chancellor, , .. Syracuse ROBERT M. BENNETT, Chancellor Emeritus, , .. Tonawanda JAMES C. DAWSON, , , , .. Plattsburgh HARRY PHILLIPS, 3rd, , .. Hartsdale JAMES R. TALLON, JR., , .. Binghamton ROGER TILLES, , .. Great Neck CHARLES R. BENDIT, .. Manhattan BETTY A. ROSA, , in Ed., in Ed., , .. Bronx LESTER W. YOUNG, JR., , , Ed. D.. Oakland Gardens CHRISTINE D. CEA, , , .. Staten Island WADE S. NORWOOD, .. Rochester KATHLEEN M. CASHIN.

2 Brooklyn JAMES E. COTTRELL, , .. New York T. ANDREW BROWN, , .. Rochester JOSEPHINE VICTORIA FINN, , .. Monticello Commissioner of Education President of The University of the State of New York JOHN B. KING, JR. Executive Deputy Commissioner ELIZABETH R. BERLIN Deputy Commissioner of P-12 Education COSIMO TANGORRA Deputy Commissioner for Curriculum, Assessment and Educational Technology KEN WAGNER Assistant Commissioner, Office of Assessment, Standards and Curriculum CANDACE H. SHYER Assistant Commissioner, Office of Student Support Services RENEE L. RIDER The State Education Department does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race, gender, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, services and activities. Portions of this publication can be made available in a variety of formats, including braille, large print or audio tape, upon request.

3 Inquiries concerning this policy of nondiscrimination should be directed to the Department s Office for Diversity and Access, Room 530, Education Building, Albany, NY 12234. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Darryl Daily, MSEd Associate in Physical Education Office of Student Support Services New York State Education Department Cynthia Devore, MD, MA, MS, FAPP Consultant New York Statewide School Health Services Center Karen Hollowood, RN, BSN, MSEd Associate in School Nursing Office of Student Support Services New York State Education Department Linda Khalil, RN, BSN, MSEd Director New York Statewide School Health Services Center Patricia Kocialski, MSEd (Retired) Associate in Physical Education Office of Curriculum and Instruction New York State Education Department Martha Morrissey, RN, BS, MA Associate in School Nursing Office of Student Support Services New York State Education Department Gail Wold, RN, BSN Coordinator New York Statewide School Health Services Center.

4 Iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface .. 1 General 3 Physical Education Director and/or ATHLETIC Director .. 5 Checklist .. 9 District Medical Director .. 10 Checklist .. 14 APPENDIX A. Sample Resolution by board of Education .. 16 B. Parent/Guardian Permission Form .. 17 C. Physical Maturity Form .. 19 D. Coach s Sport Skill Evaluation Form .. 20 E. Physical Fitness Testing: Score Form .. 22 F. Notification of Qualified Athletes .. 23 G. Special Try-Out Processes Bowling & Golf .. 24 H. Physical Maturity Chart .. 25 I. Physical Fitness Test: Instructions .. 26 J. Physical Fitness Test: Scores .. 32 NYSED ATHLETIC PLACEMENT PROCESS Last Updated December 2017 1 PREFACE The ATHLETIC PLACEMENT PROCESS (APP) is a program for evaluating students who want to participate in sports at higher or lower levels, as approved by the board of Regents as a part of the school eligibility rules in 1980, and is aligned with Learning Standards 1 and 2.

5 Commissioner s Regulation Section (c)(7)(ii)(a)(4)states: A board of Education may permit pupils in grades no lower than seventh to compete on any senior high school team, or permit senior high pupils to compete on any teams in grades no lower than seventh, provided the pupils are placed at levels of competition appropriate to their physiological maturity, physical fitness, and skills in relationship to other pupils on those teams in accordance with standards established by the Commissioner. These standards state that students will have the necessary knowledge and skills to establish and maintain physical fitness, participate in physical activity, maintain personal health, and acquire both the knowledge and ability to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has collaborated with the New York State ATHLETIC Administrators Association (NYSAAA), the New York State Public High School ATHLETIC Association (NYSPHSAA), the Statewide School Health Services Center (SSHSC), district directors of school health services (commonly referred to as medical directors and previously known as school medical officers), and directors of physical education/athletics to promote physical education and INTERSCHOOL ATHLETIC competition statewide.

6 This guide to the ATHLETIC PLACEMENT PROCESS is the result of that collaboration. This document represents the shared belief of the NYSAAA, the NYSPHSAA, medical directors, directors of physical education/athletics, and the NYSED that physical education and interscholastic ATHLETIC competition are important to the development of the whole child, and that students benefit when they can participate in such activities at a pace that is consistent with their physical and emotional maturity, size, fitness level, and ATHLETIC skill. Schools, both public and private, competing in interscholastic sports under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner s Regulations may choose whether or not to adopt a policy that permits students in the 7th and 8th grades to try out for a high school team, or that permits high school students to play at the modified level. If schools choose to have such a policy, the PROCESS outlined in this document is to be followed.

7 Normally, a student is eligible for senior high ATHLETIC competition in a sport during each of four consecutive seasons, beginning with entry into the ninth grade. However, by satisfying the requirements of the APP, a student may receive extended eligibility that permits: a) participation during five consecutive seasons in the approved sport, after entry into the eighth grade; or b) participation during six consecutive seasons in the approved sport, after entry into the seventh grade. THE INTENT OF THE APP IS TO PROVIDE A PROTOCOL FOR THOSE DISTRICTS THAT CHOOSE TO ALLOW STUDENTS IN GRADES 7 AND 8 TO MOVE UP; OR FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-12 TO MOVE DOWN, ALLOWING THEM TO PARTICIPATE SAFELY AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF COMPETITION BASED UPON PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL READINESS AND ATHLETIC ABILITY RATHER THAN AGE AND GRADE ALONE. NYSED ATHLETIC PLACEMENT PROCESS Last Updated December 2017 2 Students do not mature at the same rate, and there can be tremendous developmental differences between students of the same age.

8 The APP is not to be used to fill positions on teams, provide additional experience, provide an opportunity for middle school or junior high students when no modified program is offered, or to reward a student. Instead, it is aimed at the few, select students who can benefit from such PLACEMENT because of their level of readiness. Effective July 1, 2017, Commissioner s regulation (c)(7)(ii)(a) was amended to clarify the conditions under which K-8 public school districts may employ the APP protocol to allow the opportunity for exceptional student athletes to participate in interscholastic sports at the high school(s) with which the K-8 school district contracts for the education of its high school students, when such students are bona fide students of the K-8 school district. Commissioner s regulation (c)(7)(ii)(a)(4) was amended as follows, effective July 1, 2017.

9 (ii) Nothing in this subclause shall prohibit a bona fide seventh or eighth grade student, as defined by subdivision (g) of section , who is regularly enrolled in a public school district organized for pupils in kindergarten through eighth grade that contracts with a neighboring school district or districts on a tuition basis for the education of its high school students pursuant to Education Law sections 2040 and 2045 and section of this Title, from seeking to participate in a high school team, in accordance with the standards described in item (i) of this subclause, provided that the boards of education of the sending school district (as such term is defined in section (a)(1) of this Title) and the receiving school district(s) (as such term is defined in section (a)(2) of this Title) adopt a resolution to permit such participation.

10 In the case of seventh and eighth grade students attending a public school district organized for pupils in kindergarten through eighth grade that contracts with more than one neighboring school district for the education of its high school students, any such seventh or eighth grade student who participates in high school athletics pursuant to this subclause may select only one high school in which to compete during their seventh and eighth grade participation; if, following participation in a high school team during seventh and/or eighth grade, such student chooses to attend a different high school with which the student s kindergarten through eighth grade school district contracts for the education of its high school students, such student shall be ineligible to participate in any interscholastic ATHLETIC contest in a particular sport for a period of one year.